Start with the Southport Classic & Performance Motor Show on Sunday 13 September 2026, then stay a little longer to discover the town’s Heritage Open Days. Victoria Park will welcome hundreds of cars, bikes and commercial vehicles on the Sunday, while a varied programme of walks, talks and rarely opened buildings continues across Southport during the week that follows.
This is a good opportunity to turn one event into a short Southport break: enjoy the motor show first, relax overnight and explore local history from Monday onwards. We have limited availability around the motor-show and Heritage Open Days dates, so search your exact stay dates promptly if you would like to make a few days of it.
Southport motor show at a glance
- Event: Southport Classic & Performance Motor Show
- Date and time: Sunday 13 September 2026, 10am–4pm
- Venue: Victoria Park, Rotten Row, Southport, PR8 2BZ
- What to expect: hundreds of classic and performance cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles, plus club displays, a show arena, trade stands, autojumble and food
- On-the-day prices: adults £12.50, children £5, family ticket £40 for two adults and up to three children
- Heritage Open Days: Friday 11–Sunday 20 September 2026, with Southport events continuing after the motor show
Advance discounts, arrangements and event details can change. Check the official motor-show page before travelling.
Spend Sunday at Victoria Park
The show rounds off the organiser’s 2026 season on the lawns of the Southport Flower Show grounds. The displays are set to mix cherished classics with performance, modified, sports and supercars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Club displays, trade stands, autojumble, food stalls and activity in the show arena make it a full day for enthusiasts, families and anyone who enjoys beautifully kept vehicles.
Public entry is scheduled from 10am to 4pm. The organiser lists parking opposite the showground, welcomes dogs on leads and states that camping is not available on site. Buy advance tickets and recheck the visitor information on the official page, particularly if weather or travel conditions may affect your plans.
Stay for Heritage Open Days after the show
Browse the official Southport Heritage Open Days 2026 programme. Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Events are free, but some have limited capacity or require advance booking. The programme below begins on Monday 14 September, so you can give Sunday to the motor show and choose the heritage days that interest you most.
Monday 14 September: shopping and architecture on Lord Street
Shopping on Lord Street with Mrs Dowson begins at 2pm and lasts about two hours. Using receipts preserved in the local history collection, the guided walk explores the shopping habits of a Birkdale resident and the Victorian and Edwardian buildings that housed the businesses she visited. Capacity is limited to 12 and advance booking is required.
For a flexible stop before the walk, Wine & Words by Watson shares the history of its Lord Street building and former Manchester & County Bank entrance throughout the festival, with no advance booking required.
Tuesday 15 September: design and a historic church
The Southport Heritage Interior Styling Workshop runs from 11am to 1pm at The Junction in Wayfarers Arcade. Participants will explore local Victorian, Art Nouveau and seaside influences through colour palettes and mood-board making. The workshop is limited to 30 people and must be booked in advance.
Afterwards, visit the Lord Street West United Church Open Day between 1pm and 5pm. The Grade II listed building dates from 1862 and is opening beyond its usual worship hours. No advance booking is required.
Wednesday 16 September: Hesketh Park Observatory
Hesketh Park Observatory is open from 11am to 4pm. See the Grade II listed observatory and its 1869 six-inch Cooke telescope, connected with Southport meteorologist and astronomer Joseph Baxendell. No advance booking is required, but capacity is limited to 15 and access to the observatory is by an external iron staircase.
Thursday 17 September: buildings by day, railways by night
- Tours of the Former Conservative Club run from 1pm to 4pm on Stanley Street. No advance booking is required, but the tours involve steps and there is no lift.
- The Bowden Lodge Guest House: A Victorian Villa is open from 2pm to 4.30pm, sharing the house’s original features and stories of its past owners. No advance booking is required; there are steps at the entrance.
- Railway Recollections Around Southport begins at 7.30pm. The illustrated talk explores how railways transformed Southport into a major resort and commuter town. Advance booking is required.
The two afternoon openings overlap, so choose one and then add the evening railway talk if you want a full heritage day.
Friday 18 September: Southport stories and local art
Silcock’s Stories of Southport begins at 10.30am at Silcock’s Pier Restaurant. Three short talks cover the carousel’s 125-year history, the art of signwriting and Silcock’s vehicle heritage. No advance booking is required.
The Southport Scenes pop-up gallery runs from 10am to 4pm at Southport Community Centre, displaying paintings, prints and drawings inspired by the town. No advance booking is required. The Bowden Lodge and former Conservative Club also reopen on Friday afternoon.
Limited accommodation remains
We have limited availability around Sunday 13 September and the Heritage Open Days that follow. Staying locally lets you spend Sunday at the motor show and explore Southport’s heritage at a more relaxed pace on Monday, Tuesday or later in the week.
Our accommodation includes Market Quarter Apartment for up to four guests, Kings Central for up to six, and Birkdale Links Lodge for up to eight. Availability differs by property and night, so search your exact dates and party size rather than assuming a particular home is still free.
Choose the length of your heritage break
- Sunday to Tuesday: enjoy the motor show on Sunday, stay for Monday’s Lord Street walk and leave on Tuesday morning.
- Sunday to Wednesday: add Tuesday’s Wayfarers Arcade workshop and Lord Street West United Church open day.
- Sunday to Thursday: include Wednesday’s Hesketh Park Observatory before travelling home.
- A longer midweek stay: continue into Thursday or Friday for historic-building visits, railway stories, local art and Southport’s leisure heritage.
Some events require advance booking and several have small capacities. Secure any event places first, then search accommodation for the dates that match your chosen programme.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Southport Classic & Performance Motor Show 2026?
It is scheduled for Sunday 13 September 2026, with public entry from 10am to 4pm at Victoria Park in Southport.
How much are motor-show tickets?
The organiser lists on-the-day prices of £12.50 for adults, £5 for children and £40 for a family ticket covering two adults and up to three children. Advance discounts may be available; check the official ticket page for the current price.
Do Southport Heritage Open Days continue after the motor show?
Yes. The national festival runs until Sunday 20 September, with Southport walks, workshops, talks and building openings scheduled from Monday 14 September onwards.
Are Heritage Open Days events free?
Yes. Heritage Open Days events are free to explore, but some Southport activities have limited capacity or require advance booking. Always read the individual listing before setting off.
Can I bring a dog to the motor show?
The organiser says dogs on leads are welcome. Check individual heritage venues separately because their rules and access arrangements may differ.
Where can I stay for the motor show and Heritage Open Days?
Southport Airbnb has limited availability around the motor show and following heritage dates. Search your intended arrival, departure and number of guests to see which properties remain available.
Event details were checked against Great British Motor Shows and the official Heritage Open Days listings on 3 September 2026. Timings, prices, availability, access and booking arrangements may change. Accommodation availability was confirmed by Southport Airbnb on the same date and is not secured until a booking is completed. This independent guide is not affiliated with either event organiser. Article by Steve — Southport Airbnb Editorial Team.